Minister's Message

September 2010

Dear Friends,

Spot the difference!
By this all people will know you are my disciples, if you love one another. John 13:35

Being a minister seems to attract strange requests. Today an email stating that Nintendo is looking for a minister who plays the Nintendo Wii to feature in one of their ads! All I know is that they are played with a computer linked to a TV screen. Apparently they want to feature real people (as opposed to actors) with interesting jobs and stories for a new series of TV adverts. Any opportunity for a minister to have a voice should be welcomed, but it leads me to wonder to what extent we should be seen to be different. Ordination is indeed a holy sacrament and it is a privilege to be set apart in the church for the ministry of the word and the sacraments. In Methodist theology, not set apart because if any superiority but on the recognition of God’s calling and for the good order of the church. It is of course for the whole church to be sharing in the kingdom building mission, expressed in words of witness and actions of care. The wearing of a ‘dog collar’ may aid a quick recognition of the ordained but what of the whole ministry team? How is every member of the church seen to be different? Chiefly it must be by the measure of love we show. Love, like that of the Good Samaritan, in such a volume and surprising manner that it is seen to be the work of God.

In our Connect café style services we are currently focusing on the fruit of the spirit. Beginning with love, all of the fruit of the spirit are to be nurtured in the life of every follower of Jesus. I know which is the plum tree and which is the apple tree in our manse garden only because I have seen the fruit. Are we allowing God to nurture the fruit in our living that will enable others to spot the difference? It takes time, if you need help, have you thought of the cultivation that may be there for you in one of our home groups?

Sometimes a follower of Jesus is clearly distinguished by a gift of the Holy Spirit. At our holiday club Rocky’s Plaice the children aged 5-11 learnt from the stories of Simon Peter about being called but still making mistakes. Being forgiven and filled with the Holy Spirit so that in any situation we can ask ‘What Would Jesus Do?’ and be a channel for him to work through us. It is His Spirit that gives our labours His difference. We thank Him for giving that blessing to the work of Joy Lewis and all the team leading the club. We also pray for His blessing on the ministry that Darrel Hofland has commenced among us as our Youth & Families worker.  May the Kingdom difference be seen in all that we all do.

The Churches in Bicester Funday comes to Garth Park on Saturday 11th September. Each year many who attend spot that the big difference is that everything is free!  We will praise God for the Harvest of food on 26th September, may we look for many celebrations of the difference that we show because He freely gives.

Prayerful Greetings,